Using baking soda in a washing machine

soda Everyone knows baking soda, and it's prized for its wide range of uses. Even our grandmothers used this "white powder" for cleaning dishes, washing clothes, and many other purposes. But today we'll tell you how to use baking soda in your washing machine and what benefits it brings.

Baking soda vs. washing soda: what's the difference?

When talking about baking soda, many people think of baking soda, but that's only one type of this alkaline compound. In fact, baking soda comes in three categories:

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has a chemical formula of NaHCO₃;
soda ash, chemical formula Na₂CO₃;
Caustic soda, chemical formula NaOH.

Baking soda is the weakest alkali, so it's used in confectionery. Caustic soda, on the other hand, is very alkaline, so it's rarely used in everyday life, and is primarily used in industry. We will be more interested in soda ash., which is suitable for both heavily soiled items and for cleaning the washing machine. But first things first.

Cleaning the washing machine

During the operation of the washing machine, scale and limescale deposits may form on its parts. In addition, if you do not follow care rules If you're cleaning your household appliance, after a while you might notice an odor coming from the drum or tray. In such cases, washing soda can help clean the machine. Not only is it much cheaper than specialized detergents, but it's also effective. cleaning the washing machine from mold

To clean your car from unpleasant odors and mold, you need to:

mix soda with water in a 1:1 ratio;
Apply the paste to the drum and the cuff, as it is under the rubber that mold most often forms. Don't forget to wear gloves, as baking soda can irritate your skin.
wait about 30 minutes;
Use a cloth to clean the dirty areas on the drum.
Run the machine in quick wash mode, but without laundry.

Note! If you don't have washing soda, regular baking soda will do the job just fine, especially if you do this cleaning regularly, at least once a month.

cleaning a washing machine from limescale However, not only the drum but also the detergent drawer may need cleaning. It also accumulates limescale and soap deposits. Cleaning the detergent drawer is similar to cleaning the drum. Apply a baking soda paste to the drawer for a while, then rinse with water.

Washing soda is a good water softener. You can add 2 tablespoons of it directly to the washing powder when washing. However, only if you don't wash wool or silk items. This will prevent limescale buildup in your washing machine.

Using baking soda for washing

Washing soda is most often used for stain removal. As mentioned earlier, it can be added to washing powder when machine washing items. However, this only applies to cotton and linen items. Wool and silk items are sensitive to alkalis, and items with membrane coatings should not be washed with washing soda.

For moderately hard water, add 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda; you can add it directly to the drum with your laundry. For very hard water, add 5 tablespoons of baking soda. An important condition for such washing is the water temperature, which should not be lower than 50⁰WITH.

However, it's better to use baking soda when pre-soaking heavy stains. To do this, take 3 tablespoons of baking soda and dissolve them in 10 liters of water at 40°C.⁰C. Place items in the solution and leave them for 2-3 hours, then wash them by hand or in a machine using powder.

washing with soda Another effective recipe using baking soda is used for washing kitchen towels. Mix a handful of washing soda with grated laundry soap and place the mixture in a large enamel bucket half-filled with water. Once the mixture has dissolved, place the towels in the water and bring to a boil. Then simmer for another 20 minutes over low heat. Afterward, machine wash with detergent.

A mixture of baking soda, vegetable oil, bleach, and detergent works great on greasy stains on kitchen towels. Add three tablespoons of each mixture to a bucket of boiling water and add the towels. Leave them in the water until they cool completely, or overnight. Then rinse and machine wash.

FYI! You can buy washing soda at any household chemicals store, where you buy your laundry detergent.

So, baking soda can become an indispensable household tool. It will help keep both your clothes and your washing machine clean. You can use it to clean your stove, tiles, floors, and much more, and perhaps you'll even find your own uses for it.